03 June 2010

A Closet... Take Two

So I had the idea to mount beautiful, big, custom bulletin boards to the inside of the closet doors to use for organizing, inspiration, and scheduling. But, keeping with my resolution to truly do it myself, on the cheap, without asking my handy hubby for help, I racked my brain for an alternate idea.

It came to me in a flash one day: cup hooks!

All of about $1.99 at the hardware store, cup hooks were my solution. With the help of my tape measure, and a little pre-planning, I used them to "display" my extensive clipboard collection that had previously been scattered about the house. On the other door, I paired the cup hooks with tiny bulldog clips (a splurge at Staples, almost as affordable as the cup hooks) to arrange my daily 3 x 5 index card to-do lists, and date-specific invites and flyers, above our go-to family calender.

The clipboards are an amazing tool for organizing my busy brain. When I have a bunch of things going on at one time, I designate a clipboard for each project. I can scan the big picture all at once, and then pluck a clipboard off of the door when it's time to focus on one thing and get to work. Sometimes I use them to visually break down one project into its component parts. Clipping up the parts and pieces of a project helps me to connect-the-dots and makes the task less overwhelming by dividing into manageable, clipboard-sized bites. Or, like right now, when I clear the decks in between projects, I use the clipboards as inspiration boards. I gaze upon some of my favorite images and wait for the next wave of inspired busy-ness.

And the to-do lists... well, I can't believe it took me this long to figure out that arranging them in plain sight, by day of the week, is totally the way to go for me. It makes so. much. sense. Whew. Again, I can see the big picture all at once or pluck a list off and put it in my pocket on my way out the door.

My favorite thing about this system is that it has the refrigerator door effect. You know when you have that "What should I make for dinner?" moment and you open the fridge door and do a little window shopping for ideas? Well, these doors work the same way. When I have a "What work needs to be done now?" moment, or a "What can I possibly accomplish in ten minutes?" moment I gaze upon my doors until it all becomes clear to me. And, more often than not, it usually does.

Oh, and I even saved a spot for displaying one of my favorite recent drawings that Jack made. In case you didn't recognize us, It's me and Jack holding hands. And he labeled it "BFF" because, apparently, he considers us BFFs. Be still my heart. That boy sure does make me swoon. I love that this big picture fits right beside where I work (thanks to a couple cup hooks and bulldogs, of course). It's a great reminder about why I work and what's most important. And the perfect prompt to nudge me to wrap things up and close these doors for the day.

Which is what I'm about to do right now.... Thanks for coming along on my closet tour! Next post, let's get outside for a bit of fresh air!

This is super inspiring! Thank you for the wonderful pictures for ideas. I too have a closet to work with and now have some great ideas to work from. Love the ideas below for a writing station whether it is in a room or at the kitchen table. I'm inspired to try these ideas myself!